PhD Candidate in Artificial Intelligence for Bone Tumors

About your role

As a PhD candidate in Artificial Intelligence for Bone Tumors, you will develop and evaluate advanced multimodal AI methods to improve the diagnosis and understanding of bone tumors. Your research will combine deep learning innovation with clinical application, bridging the gap between computational modeling and real-world medical practice. You will work in a multidisciplinary environment that connects data science, pathology, and radiology, contributing directly to the advancement of precision diagnostics.

Your main tasks will include:

• Developing the multimodal BONE-CLASSifier by formulating and testing novel multiple instance learning algorithms with self-supervised objectives (e.g., DINOv2, Barlow Twins) and exploring innovative multimodal deep learning architectures and fusion strategies.
• Designing and conducting hypothesis-driven experiments, defining evaluation metrics, performing ablation studies, and interpreting model behavior to reveal diagnostic patterns.
• Collaborating closely with clinicians, radiologists, and pathologists to ensure meaningful integration of AI models into daily clinical workflows.
• Writing high-impact scientific publications, presenting your findings at international conferences, and contributing to grant and project proposals that extend the research vision.

You will join an interdisciplinary team working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, medical imaging, and pathology, offering a unique opportunity to translate fundamental AI research into tangible clinical impact.

About your workplace

You will be based at the Department of Pathology at LUMC, a recognized European reference center for bone tumors. You will be embedded within the Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Pathology research group (P.I. Dr. Suk Wai Lam, clinician scientist, with a specific focus on bone and soft tissue tumors) and the Computational Pathology Diagnostics Unit (P.I. Dr. Jesper Kers, clinician scientist, with a specific focus on the development, validation and implementation of computer vision software within pathology ). The CPD-unit is a new initiative currently being established, where you will work alongside other PhD students.

About you

You are a proactive and analytical researcher with a strong sense of curiosity and a passion for applying AI to medical challenges. You thrive in an interdisciplinary environment where collaboration and innovation go hand in hand. With your strong communication skills, structured way of working, and eagerness to learn, you are ready to push the boundaries of computational pathology and make an impact in both science and clinical practice.

Furthermore, you have:

• A Master’s degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field, obtained with excellent academic results.
• Hands-on experience with Python and modern deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Familiarity with self-supervised learning and multiple instance learning, or a strong willingness to acquire these skills.
• Knowledge of containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes), distributed computing, and version control (Git), or motivation to learn these tools.
• The ability to communicate clearly and collaborate effectively with researchers, clinicians, and IT professionals.

Our offer

Driven by health; that's our mission. This applies not only to our patients but also to our employees. We strive to provide a safe, inclusive and equitable work environment, with a focus on talent development and connected leadership. In order to be able to continue to learn and develop, we offer internal and external training. You are also entitled to an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), holiday allowance, sports budget, bicycle scheme, home office allowance and an excellent commuting allowance. Furthermore, as an employee of LUMC, you are also affiliated with the ABP pension fund. This means that 70% of your pension premium is paid by LUMC, leaving you with a higher net salary. Nice, right?

See all employment conditions of the LUMC.

What do we represent?

As an academic medical center, LUMC strives to have a workforce that is a good reflection of society. We are committed to the highest quality in health care, education and (international) research, in which diverse perspectives are essential. Sustainability is also a high priority for us: we are committed to a healthy future, not only for people, but also for the planet. In line with these values, we aim to be a creative and inspiring place to work, where everyone feels at home, safe and valued. It's all about who you are and what you bring to contribute, regardless of your background. Together, we work toward a sustainable and inclusive future, both for the people around us and for the world we live in. Together, we are LUMC.  

More information

• As a PhD candidate, your salary will be between €3,108 and €3,939 gross per month (scale PRO, CAO UMC). These figures are based on a full-time position.
• After a written pre-selection, the procedure includes one or two rounds of interviews. A presentation is also an option.
• Applications from employment/recruitment agencies will not be considered.